Safety mechanism, electrical outlet containing same, and method of manufacturing same

Abstract

A safety mechanism capable of blocking an opening to an electrical connection in an electrical outlet includes a safety barrier coupled to the electrical outlet at a pivot point and a biasing member adjacent to the safety barrier. The safety barrier is rotatable between a first position, in which the safety barrier blocks the opening, and a second position, in which the safety barrier does not block the opening. The biasing member biases the safety barrier toward the first position. In the same or another embodiment of the invention, the safety mechanism forms a part of one or more electrical outlets contained in an electrical product.

1. An electrical product comprising:
 a body containing a first plurality of electrical connections and a second plurality of electrical connections; 
 a faceplate covering the body and having therein a first plurality of openings corresponding to the first plurality of electrical connections and a second plurality of openings corresponding to the second plurality of electrical connections; 
 a first safety barrier between the first plurality of openings and the first plurality of electrical connections, the first safety barrier adjacent to a first biasing member and coupled to, and capable of rotational motion about, a first pivot point; 
 a second safety barrier between the second plurality of openings and the second plurality of electrical connections, the second safety barrier adjacent to a second biasing member and coupled to, and capable of rotational motion about, a second pivot point; 
 wherein:
 the first safety barrier comprises a first shutter and a second shutter; 
 the second safety barrier comprises a third shutter and a fourth shutter; 
 the second shutter is located between the first shutter and the third shutter; 
 the second shutter is elevated above the third shutter such that the third shutter rotates underneath the second shutter and between the second shutter and the body; 
 the first safety barrier is rotatable between a first position, in which the first safety barrier blocks each one of the first plurality of openings, and a second position, in which the first safety barrier does not block any of the first plurality of openings; 
 the second safety barrier is rotatable between a third position, in which the second safety barrier blocks each one of the second plurality of openings, and a fourth position, in which the second safety barrier does not block any of the second plurality of openings; 
 the first biasing member biases the first safety barrier toward the first position; and 
 the second biasing member biases the second safety barrier toward the third position. 
 
 
   
   
     2. The electrical product of  claim 1  wherein:
 the first safety barrier comprises:
 a first surface facing the first plurality of electrical connections; and 
 a second surface opposite the first surface and facing away from the first plurality of electrical connections; 
 
 the second safety barrier comprises:
 a third surface facing the second plurality of electrical connections; and 
 a fourth surface opposite the third surface and facing away from the second plurality of electrical connections; 
 
 the first surface and the third surface are substantially parallel to the faceplate; 
 a portion of the second surface is angled with respect to the first surface; and 
 a portion of the fourth surface is angled with respect to the third surface. 
 
   
   
     3. A safety mechanism capable of blocking an opening to an electrical connection in an electrical outlet, the safety mechanism comprising:
 a safety barrier coupled to the electrical outlet at a Divot point and rotatable between a first position, in which the safety barrier blocks the opening, and a second position, in which the safety barrier does not block the opening; 
 a faceplate containing the opening; and 
 a biasing member adjacent to the safety barrier, 
 wherein:
 the biasing member biases the safety barrier toward the first position; 
 the safety barrier further comprises:
 a first surface facing the electrical connection; and 
 a second surface opposite the first surface and facing away from the electrical connection; 
 a first shutter coupled to the electrical outlet at the pivot point; and 
 a second shutter coupled to the electrical outlet at a second pivot point; 
 
 
 the first surface is substantially parallel to the faceplate; and 
 a portion of the second surface is angled with respect to the first surface. 
 
   
   
     4. The safety mechanism of  claim 3  wherein:
 at least one of the first shutter and the second shutter comprises at least one of an interlock feature and a living hinge; and 
 the safety barrier further comprises a coupling mechanism linking the first shutter and the second shutter. 
 
   
   
     5. The safety mechanism of  claim 4  wherein:
 the coupling mechanism comprises a gear system. 
 
   
   
     6. The safety mechanism of  claim 3  wherein:
 the biasing member comprises a spring. 
 
   
   
     7. The safety mechanism of  claim 3  wherein:
 the biasing member is adjacent to the first shutter; 
 the safety mechanism further comprises a second biasing member; 
 the second biasing member is adjacent to the second shutter; and 
 the first shutter and the second shutter can move independently of each other. 
 
   
   
     8. A safety mechanism capable of blocking an opening to an electrical connection in an electrical outlet, the safety mechanism comprising:
 a safety barrier coupled to the electrical outlet at a pivot point and rotatable between a first position, in which the safety barrier blocks the opening, and a second position, in which the safety barrier does not block the opening; 
 a faceplate containing the opening; and 
 a biasing member adjacent to the safety barrier, 
 wherein:
 the biasing member biases the safety barrier toward the first position; 
 the safety barrier comprises:
 a first surface facing the electrical connection; and 
 a second surface opposite the first surface and facing away from the electrical connection; 
 a first shutter coupled to the electrical outlet at the pivot point; and 
 a second shutter coupled to the electrical outlet at the pivot point; and 
 the safety barrier is located between the faceplate and the electrical connection; 
 
 
 the first surface is substantially parallel to the faceplate; and 
 a portion of the second surface is angled with respect to the first surface. 
 
   
   
     9. The electrical product of  claim 2  wherein:
 the first pivot point comprises a first post extending away from the body toward the faceplate; and 
 the second pivot point comprises a second post extending away from the body toward the faceplate. 
 
   
   
     10. The electrical product of  claim 9  wherein:
 the body further comprises:
 a surface; 
 a support feature on the surface of the body; and 
 a friction-reducing feature on the surface of the body. 
 
 
   
   
     11. An electrical outlet comprising:
 a body containing a plurality of electrical connections; 
 a faceplate covering the body and having therein a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of electrical connections; 
 a safety barrier between the faceplate and the body; and 
 a biasing member adjacent to the safety barrier, 
 wherein:
 the safety barrier comprises a portion that is angled with respect to the faceplate; 
 the safety barrier is coupled to the body at a pivot point; 
 the safety barrier is rotatable between a first position, in which the safety barrier blocks each one of the plurality of openings, and a second position, in which the safety barrier does not block any of the plurality of openings; and 
 the safety barrier comprises:
 a first shutter coupled to the body at the pivot point; and 
 a second shutter coupled to the body at a second pivot point; and 
 
 the biasing member biases the safety barrier toward the first position. 
 
 
   
   
     12. The electrical outlet of  claim 11  wherein:
 the safety barrier further comprises a coupling mechanism linking the first shutter and the second shutter and preventing the first shutter and the second shutter from moving independently of each other. 
 
   
   
     13. The electrical outlet of  claim 12  wherein:
 the coupling mechanism comprises a gear system. 
 
   
   
     14. The electrical outlet of  claim 13  wherein:
 the biasing member comprises a spring. 
 
   
   
     15. The electrical outlet of  claim 11  wherein:
 the biasing member is adjacent to the first shutter; 
 the electrical outlet further comprises a second biasing member; 
 the second biasing member is adjacent to the second shutter; and 
 the first shutter and the second shutter are capable of moving independently of each other. 
 
   
   
     16. An electrical outlet comprising:
 a body containing a plurality of electrical connections; 
 a faceplate covering the body and having therein a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of electrical connections; 
 a safety barrier between the faceplate and the body; and 
 biasing member adjacent to the safety barrier, 
 wherein:
 the safety barrier comprises a portion that is angled with respect to the faceplate; 
 the safety barrier is coupled to the body at a pivot point; 
 the safety barrier is rotatable between a first position, in which the safety barrier blocks each one of the plurality of openings, and a second position, in which the safety barrier does not block any of the plurality of openings; 
 the safety barrier comprises:
 a first shutter coupled to the body at the pivot point; and 
 a second shutter coupled to the body at the pivot point; and 
 
 
 at least one of the first shutter and the second shutter comprises an interlock feature and a living hinge; and
 the biasing member biases the safety barrier toward the first position. 
 
 
   
   
     17. An electrical outlet comprising:
 a body containing a plurality of electrical connections; 
 a faceplate covering the body and having therein a plurality of openings corresponding to the plurality of electrical connections; 
 a safety barrier between the faceplate and the body; and 
 a biasing member adjacent to the safety barrier, 
 wherein:
 the safety barrier comprises a portion that is angled with respect to the faceplate; 
 the safety barrier is coupled to the body at a pivot point; 
 the safety barrier is rotatable between a first position, in which the safety barrier blocks each one of the plurality of openings, and a second position, in which the safety barrier does not block any of the plurality of openings; and 
 the biasing member biases the safety barrier toward the first position; and 
 
 the body comprises:
 a first cavity containing a hot electrical connection; 
 a second cavity containing a neutral electrical connection; 
 a third cavity containing a ground electrical connection; 
 a channel capable of housing the biasing member; and 
 a surface adjacent to the channel and to the first, second, and third cavities; and 
 
 the hot electrical connection, the neutral electrical connection, and the ground electrical connection are at least some of the plurality of electrical connections. 
 
   
   
     18. The electrical outlet of  claim 17  wherein:
 the safety barrier comprises an extension arm. 
 
   
   
     19. The electrical outlet of  claim 17  wherein:
 the pivot point comprises a post located on the surface of the body and extending away from the body toward the faceplate. 
 
   
   
     20. The electrical outlet of  claim 19  wherein:
 the body further comprises:
 a support feature on the surface of the body; and 
 a friction-reducing feature on the surface of the body. 
 
 
   
   
     21. The electrical outlet of  claim 17  wherein:
 the safety barrier comprises a first shutter and a second shutter; 
 the biasing member is adjacent to the first shutter; 
 the electrical outlet further comprises a second biasing member; 
 the second biasing member is adjacent to the second shutter; and 
 the body further comprises a second channel capable of housing the second biasing member. 
 
   
   
     22. The electrical product of  claim 2  wherein:
 the body comprises:
 a first channel capable of housing the first biasing member; and 
 a second channel capable of housing the second biasing member. 
 
 
   
   
     23. The electrical product of  claim 22  wherein:
 the first safety barrier comprises a first extension arm; 
 the second safety barrier comprises a second extension arm; 
 the first extension arm at least partially covers the first channel when the first safety barrier is in the first position; 
 the second extension arm at least partially covers the second channel when the second safety barrier is in the third position; and 
 at least one of the first shutter and the second shutter comprises an interlock feature and a living hinge. 
 
   
   
     24. The electrical product of  claim 2  wherein:
 the first shutter and the second shutter are coupled to, and capable of rotational motion about, the first pivot point; and 
 the third shutter and the fourth shutter are coupled to, and capable of rotational motion about, the second pivot point. 
 
   
   
     25. The electrical product of  claim 2  wherein:
 the first shutter is coupled to, and capable of rotational motion about, the first pivot point; 
 the second shutter is coupled to, and capable of rotational motion about, a third pivot point; 
 the third shutter is coupled to, and capable of rotational motion about, the second pivot point; and 
 the fourth shutter is coupled to, and capable of rotational motion about, a fourth pivot point. 
 
   
   
     26. The electrical product of  claim 2  wherein:
 the first safety barrier further comprises a first coupling mechanism linking the first shutter and the second shutter; and 
 the second safety barrier further comprises a second coupling mechanism linking the third shutter and the fourth shutter.